Questions for personal reflection: 1. Have the readings changed your personal definition of 'differentiation?
2. 'Differentiation is just varying your teaching styles within the classroom.' Do you agree?
3. 'Differentiation is more a philosophy of pedagogy than a selection of strategies'. Do you agree? If so, what would you consider to be the main principles of that philosophy?
4. What is your gut reaction to Tomlinson's five principles of learning? What are the implications of each for your personal teaching style?
Readings about Differentiation.
Reading one introduction
A particular challenge for middle school teachers is being able to differentiate or adapt instruction to respond to the diverse student needs found in inclusive, mixed-ability classrooms. This digest provides an overview of some key principles for differentiating instruction, with an emphasis on the learning needs of academically advanced learners.
Questions for personal reflection:
1. Have the readings changed your personal definition of 'differentiation?
2. 'Differentiation is just varying your teaching styles within the classroom.' Do you agree?
3. 'Differentiation is more a philosophy of pedagogy than a selection of strategies'. Do you agree? If so, what would you consider to be the main principles of that philosophy?
4. What is your gut reaction to Tomlinson's five principles of learning? What are the implications of each for your personal teaching style?
Readings about Differentiation.
Reading one introduction
A particular challenge for middle school teachers is being able to differentiate or adapt instruction to respond to the diverse student needs found in inclusive, mixed-ability classrooms. This digest provides an overview of some key principles for differentiating instruction, with an emphasis on the learning needs of academically advanced learners.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/diff_instruction.html
http://www.smcm.edu/edstudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/index.htm
A fantastic powerpoint by Mary Schmidt. Really introduces and explores the concepts of Differentiation.
http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/Curriculum/Losingsightoftheshore.ppt